--- title: The Future Is 3D Printing description: The future in dentistry is 3D printing. While we aren't quite there yet, let's take a look at some exciting research that could revolutionize the dental industry. image: https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/3d_printing_main.png --- [![whip_mix_logo.png](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/whip_mix_logo.png?width=180&name=whip_mix_logo.png "whip_mix_logo.png")](https://whipmix.com/) [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/b7ad40d2-a589-4955-901d-95c009e55049.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/b7ad40d2-a589-4955-901d-95c009e55049) ![background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg?width=1500&name=background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg "background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg") # [The Future Is 3D Printing](https://info.whipmix.com/dental-insights-the-future-is-3d-printing) ![Chris Frye](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/file-1271180257-jpg/WM_Head_Shots/Chris_Frye.jpg) By [Chris Frye](https://info.whipmix.com/author/chris-frye) - May 19, 2016 - [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-insights-the-future-is-3d-printing&t=The%20Future%20Is%203D%20Printing) - [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-insights-the-future-is-3d-printing&text=:%20The%20future%20in%20dentistry%20is%203D%20printing.%20While%20we%20aren't%20quite%20there%20yet,%20let's%20take%20a%20look%20at%20some%20exciting%20research%20that%20could%20revolutionize%20the%20dental%20industry.) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-insights-the-future-is-3d-printing&title=The%20Future%20Is%203D%20Printing&summary=The%20future%20in%20dentistry%20is%203D%20printing.%20While%20we%20aren't%20quite%20there%20yet,%20let's%20take%20a%20look%20at%20some%20exciting%20research%20that%20could%20revolutionize%20the%20dental%20industry.) - [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-insights-the-future-is-3d-printing) As many of you know I have a passion for 3D printing. I truly believe that Scott Crump, the founder of Stratasys, was correct when he said 3D printing will be the next industrial revolution. When I was selling 3D printers in the commercial manufacturing industry, I worked with a large manufacturer of bicycles. They made bikes for children and had to present the prototype bicycles to Walmart, Target, Kmart etc. The caveat was that the bikes had to be slightly different for each retail organization. This meant they needed to develop the tooling to injection mold different accessories that may never actually be chosen by one of the retailers. By printing the prototype or printing the mold the manufacturer was able to save $100’s of thousands almost immediately. This is only one example of how 3D printing is changing the manufacturing industry and I think it has the ability to revolutionize the dental industry the same way. I’m sure plenty of you heard the rumors in Chicago that there will be a printer out later this year that will be able to print the entire denture including the gingiva. While we may be this close to printing the final product, I am sure the first iteration of these printers will require a lot finishing work. The end game will be printing the final restoration with as little hands on time as possible. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the research that is going on now with a couple of companies that could lead to 3D printing the final restoration. ###### **Titanium Ceramic Composite Material** [Z3Dlab](http://z3dlab.com/) is a French metal printing company that is currently working on a SLM machine that will print a titanium zirconia combination. The new material called ZTi-Powder is the world’s first [titanium/ceramic composite material](https://3dprint.com/98211/z3dlab-zti-powder-composite/) in 3D printing, and the company hopes to begin printing with it by 2016. ###### **Antimicrobial Plastic** Dutch researchers at the University of Groningen are working on the creation of a[3D-printed tooth made of an antimicrobial plastic](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/10/20/how-bacteria-fighting-3d-printed-teeth-could-impact-dentistry/)that kills the bacteria responsible for tooth decay on contact. Imagine a restoration that kills more than 99% of all bacteria. ###### **BioPrinting** And last but not least researchers at Wake Forest University in North Carolina say they have created a [3D printer that can produce organs, tissues, and bones](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-biotech-3d-printers-idUSKCN0VO28X) that could theoretically be implanted into living humans. Using some of the same methods we are using to print today these researchers are laying down layers of human cells. They have printed out an ear-shaped piece of cartilage, a muscle, and a piece of a jawbone. BioPrinting is truly ground breaking. We may be a few years from printing the final restoration and even farther than that from printing a replacement jaw, but as the above research suggests we may be there sooner than we think.   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/5b509575-17dd-4a0f-8904-13c3013fd214.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/5b509575-17dd-4a0f-8904-13c3013fd214) ## Leave a comment ![Chris Frye](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/file-1271180257-jpg/WM_Head_Shots/Chris_Frye.jpg) Written by [Chris Frye](https://info.whipmix.com/author/chris-frye) Chris has been a product specialist for over 18 years. In 2012, he became involved in the 3D printing industry, helping clients understand the complexities of printing and how it can help their companies. He is knowledgeable in all forms of 3D printing, having been associated with Stratasys, 3D Systems and Asiga. Chris can be reached at cfrye@whipmix.com or 513-680-1512. [**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-frye-bb360a46) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/678b9dbf-1b39-49b9-a0e8-da1ed100067b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/678b9dbf-1b39-49b9-a0e8-da1ed100067b) [![get-free-consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/b1cd8f92-2725-4e85-9e80-b09ccc6a27ca.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/b1cd8f92-2725-4e85-9e80-b09ccc6a27ca) #### Related posts [![The Roaring 20’s, RPD Style](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Product_Images/3D%20Printing/3D-Print-Resins/VeriCast%20OS%20Red%20No%20Bkg-3.png) ](https://info.whipmix.com/the-roaring-20s-rpd-style) ##### [The Roaring 20’s, RPD Style](https://info.whipmix.com/the-roaring-20s-rpd-style) ![Bryce Hiller](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Bryce%20Hiller-1.jpg) By [ Bryce Hiller](https://info.whipmix.com/the-roaring-20s-rpd-style/author/bryce-hiller) - April 28, 2022 [**](https://info.whipmix.com/the-roaring-20s-rpd-style) [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-roaring-20s-rpd-style&t=The%20Roaring%2020’s,%20RPD%20Style) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-roaring-20s-rpd-style&text=:%20) [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-roaring-20s-rpd-style&title=The%20Roaring%2020’s,%20RPD%20Style&summary=) [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-roaring-20s-rpd-style) [![Let’s Get Digital 🎶🎶](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/2021/Lets%20Get%20Digital%20Blog.png) ](https://info.whipmix.com/lets-get-digital) ##### [Let’s Get Digital 🎶🎶](https://info.whipmix.com/lets-get-digital) ![Sherri Weatherby](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Sherri%20Weatherby%20(1).jpg) By [ Sherri Weatherby](https://info.whipmix.com/lets-get-digital/author/sherri-weatherby) - January 14, 2021 [**](https://info.whipmix.com/lets-get-digital) [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Flets-get-digital&t=Let’s%20Get%20Digital%20🎶🎶) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Flets-get-digital&text=:%20) [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Flets-get-digital&title=Let’s%20Get%20Digital%20🎶🎶&summary=) [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Flets-get-digital) [![3D Printing in the Dental Industry for Stat Nerds](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Product_Images/3D%20Printing/Asiga%20Printers/Asiga-Pro-4K-No-Bkg-2.png) ](https://info.whipmix.com/3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds) ##### [3D Printing in the Dental Industry for Stat Nerds](https://info.whipmix.com/3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds) ![Chris Frye](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/file-1271180257-jpg/WM_Head_Shots/Chris_Frye.jpg) By [ Chris Frye](https://info.whipmix.com/3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds/author/chris-frye) - September 17, 2020 [**](https://info.whipmix.com/3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds) [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2F3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds&t=3D%20Printing%20in%20the%20Dental%20Industry%20for%20Stat%20Nerds) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2F3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds&text=:%20) [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2F3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds&title=3D%20Printing%20in%20the%20Dental%20Industry%20for%20Stat%20Nerds&summary=) [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2F3d-printing-in-the-dental-industry-for-stat-nerds) ### Follow Us Copyright © 2016 Whip Mix Corporation. 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